Concealed bed



Aug. 21, 1951 E. E. woLLER 2,565,417

' CONCEALED BED Filed May 16, 194e i 4 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 21,'1'951 E. E. woLLER CONCEALED BED.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16; 1946 l M y E. E. WOLLER CONCEALED BED Aug. .21, 1951 Filed May 16. 1946` 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 21, y1951 ooNoEALED BED Edward E. Woller, Kenpsfhaiiiis., assignor to vSinmrions Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Applioati'on May 1,6, 1946', serial No. 670,168 9 l'aims. (c1. 5 7-147) This'v invention relates to an improvement a concealed b ed, niet is tosay; a beu which', when notred'ui-red' for use, in concealed within a cabinet f'rn which it maybe withdrawn and extended frjusz The main objects of the invention are to provide eben of the chair-arer indicated which iy pe S'oe'd I"r Concealed within a cabinet Which Occupie'sa minimum of door space; and tl provide a bed which may be quickly and easily moved to either concealed o'r extended position by prac-A tically any person without previous eft'ensive instruction.

Qth'er objects and adyantags of the invention Will be understood by reference to thev following specification and accompanying drawings" (4 Sheets) wherein there is illustrated a bedV structure embodying a selected form of` the'in-yention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is'y a perspective illustrating the irnproved bed structure in its extended' or' operative position; v

Figure' 21s a pla'n of an end extendedv bed structure; n

Figure 3 is a fra'gn'filentaryl plan section corre#- sponding" tov a portion f Figure 2 but showing the parts on a largerv scale and ir greater detail;

Figure 4 isfari end View of the structure extended positi'o'nj Figure 4'a'is11d View correspoiicli'ng`in'partv to a portionA of Figure 4 and showing" the orit'in'uation ofsaidportion of Figure l;

Figure 5 is an endview corrs'p O'ifidi11Ev @Figure 4` but showing th'e': bed in folded or concealed IStOn c Figure 6 a vertical section on the lir 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7A isfa section onV the line `11ffFigure 4;

Figure ois an e1ovtion of a portion of the portion of the mechanism Shown fn ,Faur e, ai, o ,o

Figure 10 is an e'le'i/atiori of another portion of the mechanis'iiishown in'Figurei:r The bed structure herein illustrated j comprises a mattresssupp'ortingframe I which is mounted so as to be enclosea'ble in a suitable cabinet v2" from whiohithmay be' o xtendedto the' horizontai bed position in which it is illustrated in Figure 1. The bed frame structure comprises an upper tubular frame V3 and a lower tubular frame-4,y theseframes being: generally horizontally dis-f posed and'spacedvertically from; eachother (in' bed position) a predetermined, nxed-distancaby" means di struts or spacers 5. The upper tubular frame 3 has its front side bar provided with a centrally offset portion 6 which engagesthecentrai portion of the front side bar of the lower frame member 4. The rear side member lofthe upperframe 3 is indicated at 'l and it is a tube of somewhat larger diameter than the 4tubing forming the balance of said upper frame member. Said enlarged rear side member l is joined to the end portion of the upper frame so as to provide open ends for purposes which will presently appear# Y.

'Ijhe cabinet 2 may conveniently be orsheet metal and angle iron construction, embodying Sheet metal ,ends 8-8 having peripheral flanges 9 extending inwardly fromthe end panels a lower front wall portion IU, a fronttdoofror cover panel I I hinged as indicated at I 2\to the upper edge of the f ront wall portion |10, and a top Wall 0I panel I3 hinged as indicated at Ill to the upper rear edge of the cabinet structure. A suitable folding brace I5 is provided for holding the top wall o'r cover I3 in the open position in which it is illustrated in Figuresl and 3.

When the bed is in its extended position as shown in Figures 1 and 4, it is supported at its ends by means of arms suchjas representedat I6, saidl arms being pivotally mounted as shownat Il on bearing or mounting blocks I8 which are bolted tothe respective en d Walls as indicated at |9. Thepivot pins Il are preferably rigidly secured to the respective arms I6 and mounted for rotating movement in the bearing blocks I 8. Free turning screw threading may be employed f or the pivot mounting as indicated, to thereby control endwis'e shifting of the structure. It will be apparent' that the rotary movement is of the order of 96 so that there is but little end wise shifting occasioned by the employment or screw threaded pivots. The arms I6 have angle vn ieinloers-Ill) and'Zfi welded or otherwise secured to their opposite ends, saidangle members each having-a horlzontally inwardly extending vleg underlying the lower 4frame portion @of the bed structure: The bedstructure is slidably supported by said angle meinbers and 2-I and the end members ofthe lower frame 4 are preferably provided withv suitable wearV plate elements 22 suitably secured to the frame. o

The outer end portion of the bed structure'is supported in its extended position by means rof` the front panel I I 'whichactsasa strut or brace between the upper edge ofthe cabinet front'Wall portion It]`v and the lower'frame portion'd of the bed structure: The-end membersof the lowerg frame 4 are each equipped witlidepending ears or studs such as represented at 23 for engagement with the free end of the panel so that any downward movement of the outer portion of the bed structure will be resisted by the bracelike front panel The outer portion of the front panel is movably connected to the outer portion of the bed frame structure at each end by means of a link 24 pivoted as shown at 25 to the front panel through the agency of a suitable bracket and provided at its other end with a roller 26. The roller 23 is movable between upper and lower tracks 21 and 23 (Figures 4 and '1) which are carried by a plate 29 suitably secured to the tie members as indicated.

It will be seen that, from the bed position of` the bed frame as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, the bed structure may be rocked upwardly about the pivot |1 while also being slid inwardly over the angle brackets 2U and 2| of the pivot arms I6 and downwardly into the cabinet.

For controlling such inward and downward movement of the bed structure and for counterbalancing its weight, a counterbalancing spring arrangement is provided in the enlarged inner or rear side member 1 of the upper frame structure. The details of this counterbalancing arrangement are shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10.

Said counterbalancing spring structure within the frame member 1 comprises a helical coil spring 3Q within the tube 1 and around a shaft 3|. The shaft 3| is rotatably supported within the tube 1 through the agency of suitable ball bearings indicated at 32-32, the outer races of which t in suitable pockets or recesses formed in end members 33 and 33a which have hub portions projecting into the ends of the tube 1 so as to be properly positioned relative to the tube.

Collars represented at 34-34 have hub portions which fit around the outside of the end portions of the tube 1 and flange portions which provide for screw attachment thereof to the end members 33 and 33a as indicated at 35. The members 33 and 34 at each end of the tube 1 constitute, in effect, end ttings which are clamped in xed position on the ends of the tube 1. If necessary to secure stronger anchorage of the end fittings to the tube 1, the members 34 may be brazed or welded to the tube 1.

The spring 3S has one end anchored to the tube 1 through the agency of the tting 33 for which purpose the latter has its hub portion extended somewhat and provided with an annular slot 36 and a transverse groove 31 for receiving a hooked end portion 38 of the spring.

The other end of the spring 3|] is similarly anchored to the shaft 3| which has secured to it a collar or bushing 39 provided with an annular recess 45 and a transverse slot 4| to receive a hooked end portion 42 of the spring. As represented in Figures 9 and 10, the spring end hooks are in opposite directions so that counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 3|, when viewed from the right-hand ends of Figures 8, 9, and 10, would wind the spring about the shaft 3|, the other end of the spring being anchored against rotation as already described. In one practical embodiment of the invention, `the spring 30 extends for about two-thirds of the length of the bed. To provide additional support for the shaft 3| within the tube 1 and support for the latter, one or more bushings such as indicated at 43 may be provided at suitably spaced points within that portion of the tube 1 which is not occupied by the described spring structure, such supporting bushings may be anchored to the tube 1 by one or more screws as represented at 44.

At each end of the shaft 3| there is provided a gear o1' pinion 45 between cuter and inner flange plates 46 and 41, respectively. The ange plate 41 may be free to rotate on the shaft 3|, but the flange plate 4B and gear 45 are suitably keyed to the shaft so as to rotate as a unit with the shaft. Any suitable means may be provided for keying the outer ange plate 46 and gear 45 to the shaft, screw 48 threaded into tapped openings partially in the shaft and partially in the flange plate and gear being employed in this instance. The outer flange plates 4E and gears 45 are also preferably united by being riveted together as indicated at ri.

The gears are arranged to mesh with vertically disposed rack bars 5D mounted in each end member 8 of the cabinet. Said rack bars 5D may conveniently be mounted by being bolted as indicated at 5| to one flange of angle iron 52 which is suitably secured to the end panel 8. Another angle member 53 is disposed opposite to angle 52 and secured to said end panel 8 in such spaced relation to the angle 52 as to cooperate therewith to form a vertical guide or track for receiving the inner'ange member 41 as best shown in Figure 3. The flange member 41 is thus operative to guide vertical movement of the inner edge of the bed structure within the cabinet and to maintain the gear 45 in mesh with the rack bar 50.

When the bed structure is to be closed or folded to concealed position, it is elevated at its outer side, the structure being rocked on the pivot |1 thereby causing the gear 45 at each end to roll downwardly on its rack 5U. Such rotary movement of the gear is, of course, transmitted to the shaft 3| and fittings to one end of the spring 30 so that the latter will be wound up as the inner side of the bed structure moves downwardly within the cabinet. The spring 30 is selected to be of such strength that it will provide adequate counterbalancing for the bed structure so that its downward movement within the cabinet will be properly cushioned to prevent damaging of the structure incident to the closing thereof. Said spring furthermore supplies lifting power which is almost sufficient to move the bed structure upwardly from its concealed position as shown in Figure 5. Slight lifting force manually applied to the outer or upper side portion of the bed structure when in its concealed position as shown in Figure 5 will result in upward movement of the bed structure.

A coiled tension spring 54 is stretched between a bracket 55 secured in the lower front corner portion of the cabinet and an extended inner l force of the spring 54 is reduced. It offers but little if any downward pull on the bed structure within the frame; whateveer slight pull may be present in the spring 54 in the folded position of the bed, as shown in Figure 5, is adequately offset .by the lifting force of the spring 35 in the rear member 1 of the upper frame. Hence, when unfolding the structure, the spring 54 does not materially resist the unfolding movement.

When the bed -islto be unfolded. the cover I3 is opened from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 4. y The cover I3 is provided with one or more sockets such' as indicated at 51 for receiving locking pins 58 which project from the upper edge of the front panel II. When the cover isl opened, the panel II is released for outward folding movement. However, the bed structure Ii is first raised vertically without any material outward swinging movement, such upward movement being effected primarily by the force-of the wound-up spring 3U, but aided by slightl but sumcient manual force. As soon as the axis of the rear side portion 'i of the bed structure'- isl lifted sufficiently, i. e., to a point about inthe horizontal plane of thel axis of the hinges I2?, upwardv unfolding movement may be started, suchupward unfolding movement beingl also accompanied by relative sliding movement ot the bed structure' outwardly relative to the front panel ILI so= that the bed structure will projectA beyond the free edge of the front panel II as represented in Figures l and 4a as compared with its; retracted position shown in Figure 5.

A limitedY amount of substantially `vertical movement of the bed structure required for initiating unfolding thereof is a: desirable feature for the reason that it substantially prevents unintentional and accidental opening of the bed. The bed structure is itself made particularly adaptable to installation on ships andrailroad cars, the normal movements of which might tend to unfold a bed structure which is lessA securely held in its closed position. It may be observed that the locking effect referred to is present even though the cover member I3" is open.

Any suitable mattress 595 may. be positioned within' the bed frame, the mattress being, supported by suitable means such aslengthwise eX- tending slats G which may .bespring-suspended between the opposite end' members of the lower frame structure as indicated' at. 6I. The mattress may bey fastened in place, in the supporting structure by means of'exible fabric straps 62 suitably secured at their ends to the opposite side members of the top frame 3.

Pivotally supported arms I6 may advantageously be tied together at their outer free ends by means of a longitudinally extending tie strap E3 which may be secured at its ends by riveting or otherwise to the angle members 2U at the outer ends of the said arms.

In the closed position of the bed, the roller 26 may engage a link B4 extending between the outer or upper ends of the tracks 21 and 28. Such engagement serves to limit downward movement of the bed structure and also to insure that the bed structure is held tightly against the front panel II, the latter resulting from the link mounting of the roller 26 on the panel. This will serve to preventk the Ibed structure from shifting within the cabinet so that rattling noise will be avoided thereby when the structure is embodied in a ship or railroad car. The lower end portion of the bed structure in its closed position is, of course, held against shifting by the lit of the flange 4l between the guides 52 and 53. The employment of a screw threaded pivot I'I as above mentioned also aids in the prevention of rattling.

Various changes in the described structure may be made without departing from the invention.

I claim:

1. A bed of the class described comprising a CTI li I) support, `a bed frame, and means slidably and swingabl'y mounting said bed frame on said support and adapted to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said support only when 'said bed frame has been shifted vertically into a predetermined `position above y its vertically-disposed folded position.y l

2; A bed of the class described comprising a support, a bed frame, means for slidably and pivotally supporting said bed frame on said support, and a vertically shiftable pivotal connection between said bed frame and said support, said means on said connection co-acting to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said support only when said bed frame has been shifted vertically a predetermined distance above its vertically-disposed folded position. 3l. A Abed of the class described comprising a support, a bed frame, means slidably and swingably mounting said bed frame on said support and adapted to permit a swinging of said bed frame `relative tol said support only when said bed frame has beenshifted vertically a predetermined distance above its vertically-disposed folded position, and-other means for counterbalancing the downward vertical movement of said bed framev on said support.

4'. A bed of the class described comprising, a support, a bed frame, a vertical track on said support, a pivotal connection between said bed frame and said track reciprocable on said track, and means on said-support in forwardly spaced relationA to said track for slidably and pivotally supporting said bed frame, said meansA and coni nection co-acting to` permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said support only when said bed frame has-been shifted vertically a predetermined position above its vertically-disposed folded' distance. y

5. A bedof the'class described comprising, a support, a bed frame,'a vertical track fixed on said support, a roller journaled on said bed frame and confined to reciprocal movement along said track, and an arm pivoted on said support forwardly and intermediate the ends of said track and slidably supporting said bed frame, said track-confined roller and said pivoted arm coacting to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said support only when said bed frame has been shifted Vvertically into a predetermined position above its vertically-disposed folded position.

6. A bed of the class described comprising, a support, a bed frame, a vertical track xed on said support, a roller journaled on said bed frame and confined to reciprocal movement along said track, an arm pivoted on said support forwardly and intermediate the ends of said track and slidably supporting said bed frame, said track-confined roller and said pivoted arm coacting to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said support only when said bed frame has been shifted vertically into a predetermined position above its vertically-disposed folded position, a rack disposed along said track, a gear associated with said roller and engaging said rack, and a torsion spring arranged between said gear and bed frame for counterbalancing a portion of the weight of said bed frame during its movement into and out of its vertically-disposed folded position.

7. A bed of the class described comprising, a support, a bed frame, a vertical track fixed on said support, a roller journaled on said bed frame and confined to reciprocal movement along said,

track, an arm pivoted on said support forwardly and intermediate the ends of said track and slidably supporting said bed frame, said trackconned roller and said pivoted arm co-acting to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said support only when said bed frame has been Vshifted vertically a predetermined distance above its vertically-disposed folded position, a rack disposed along said track, a gear associated with said roller and engaging said rack, a torsion spring arranged between said gear and bed frame for counterbalancing a portion of the weight of said bed frame during its movement into and out of its vertically-disposed folded position, and a tension spring interposed between the inner end of said pivoted arm and said support and adapted to counterbalance at least a portion of the weight of said bed frame as it swings into and out of its horizontally extended bed position.

8. A bed of the class described comprising an openV top cabinet, a door hinged along its lower edge to provide an outwardly swingable front for said cabinet, a bed frame mounted on said cabinet for movement between a vertically-disposed folded position and a horizontally extended bed position, a track arranged along the back of said cabinet, a pivotal connection between said bed frame and said track reciprocable along said track, means on said cabinet intermediate the ends and forwardly of said track for pivotally and slidably supporting said bed frame, said means and connection co-acting to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said cabinet only when said bed frame has been shifted vertically a predetermined distance above its vertically-disposed folded position, said door being swingable with said frame, and means on the outer edge of said door adapted to engage said bed frame to provide support therefor in its horizontally-extended bed position.

9. A bed of the class described comprising an open top cabinet, a door hinged along its lower edge to provide an outwardly swingable front for said cabinet, a bed frame mounted on said cabinet for movement between a vertically-disposed folded position and a horizontally extended bed position, a track arranged along the back of said cabinet, a pivotal connection between said bed frame and said track reciprocable along said track, means on said cabinet intermediate the ends and forwardly of said track for pivotally and slidably supporting said bed frame, said means and connection co-acting to permit a swinging of said bed frame relative to said cabinet only when said bed frame has been shifted vertically a predetermined distance above its vertically-disposed folded position, means interconnecting the free edge of said door with said frame for effecting movement of said door between a closed and openly inclined position as an incident to the swinging of said bed frame into and out of its horizontally-extended bed position, and means on the outer edge of said door adapted to engage said bed frame to provide support therefor in its horizontally-extended bed position.

EDWARD E. WOLLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 242,961 Nelson June 14, 1881 261,053 Shupe July 11, 1882 456,915 Stevens July 28, 1891 476,923 Hayton et al June 14, 1892 763,358 Brandt June 28, 1904 892,348 Baigne June 30, 1908 1,001,214 Mulvaney Aug. 22, 1911 1,054,894 Ball Mar. 4, 1913 1,064,858 Rundel June 17, 1918 1,100,757 Manz June 23, 1914 1,189,342 Bell July 4, 1916 1,303,875 Fowler May 20, 1919 1,479,345 Walton Jan. 1, 1924 1,542,766 Hall June 16, 1925 1,837,211 Duvall Dec. 22, 1931 Certificate of Correction l Patent No. 2,565,417A Auguste.. 21, 1951 EDWARD E. WOLLER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirlng correction as follows:

Column 6, line 13, for means on read means and;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of January, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner ofPqtents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,565,417 August 21, 1951 EDWARD WOLLER It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction. as follows:

Column 1, line 3, for in read is; column 6, lines 38 and 39, for position above its vertically-disposed folded distance read distance above its 'oevzfz'oallje/- disposed folded position; and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of October, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

